Returned to me

Chapter Six

October 1941,

"You look beautiful!" Allison exclaimed when Joanna walks out in her dress for the Harvest dance. "Alex will not be able to keep his eyes, and...hands off of you!" She winked at Joanna making her blush. She pushes her away knowing that anything other than dancing would be very slim tonight.

"I doubt it," She says while leaning forward into the mirror. The bright red paints beautifully on her lips. "My mother would kill me if she saw I was wearing lipstick." She chuckles while handing back Allison's lipstick.

"Oh, who cares?! You are gorgeous!"

Allison was Joanna's biggest cheerleader no matter the occasion. "Thank you," She smiles meekly.

They walk outside waiting for their dates to pick them up from Allison's. Allison lived on the same street as Jamie. They were some of the oldest money to live in town. It was not that Joanna was ashamed of her small quaint home. She didn't want Alex to be pinned in a corner by her brother. John had returned to his base from leave. Joey had double the stamina to interrogate Alex. Knowing all this, she decided it would be best to be picked up from Allison's.

"I wish Jamie was coming," Her words trail out of her mouth thoughtlessly.

"Why?" Allison looked at her shocked.

"It'll be different without him there," She shrugs as she watches the boys enter the gate. "They're here."

"You look beautiful," Alex compliments her as she takes his hand.

"Thank you."

She didn't know why, but she was nervous. Her and Alex had not spent time alone since the diner. She wasn't nervous from the excited prospects of having her first kiss tonight. She wasn't nervous about any of what could happen tonight. She was nervous that they would have nothing to discuss. She was nervous she'd make a fool of herself somehow.

They made it to the dance just in time. Everyone from their school was out on the floor having the time of their lives, except Jamie. Her eyes immediately searched for him. She didn't know why she did when she knew he wasn't coming.

"We're gonna go dance!" She heard Allison off in the distance. Her eyes met hers. "Have fun you two!"

"Would you like to dance?" Alex asks as he extends a hand for her to take.

She was clumsy on her feet as he guided her to the rhythm of the beat. "Sorry!" She laughs when she steps on his foot. He winces while laughing himself. "I'm not very good at dancing!" She yells over the live band.

"That's okay!" He pulls her closer so she could hear him. For a split second her heart skip from how close she was to him. "I'll help you learn." She nods her head with a smile brimming from ear to ear. All that nervousness vanished in a second and was replaced with hope.

They danced for three songs until they were completely out of breath. She waited at the table for Alex to bring her some drink from the punch blow. Allison falls into her date's lap as they sat down at the table. "I saw you dancing," She wiggles her eyebrows making Jo blush. "It looked like you were getting close too!"

"Allie!" Joanna squealed at the thought. "It probably won't happen."

"I don't know," Matthew, Allison's date, says. "Alex talked about kissing you tonight."

"He did not!"

"He did!"

Allison roars with laughter. "Oh, Jo! It'll be your first real kiss!" Joanna hides her blush behind her hands.

"I've kissed before!" She shouts trying to defend herself.

"No!" Allison defends. "We are NOT counting that peck of a kiss you had when you were six!"